riding home yesterday, at around 6th and armstrong, i biked upon a dude who seemed distressed and a little out of it.
he flagged me over and he was obviously flustered and agitated.
“can you please help me?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair.
“i can try,” i replied, dismounting.
“can you tell me how to get to 36th and parallel from here? i just got out of jail from a parking ticket and they won’t give me back my money or my cigarettes until tomorrow. i’ve asked about 4 different people for directions and everyone’s told me something different. i’m all turned around and confused and pissed.”
“oh sure. head this way (pointing west on armstrong) until you hit a city park. walk through the park and just keep heading west until you hit 18th street. then head north on 18th until you hit parallel. then head east again.”
“damn.”
“what?”
“i just came from that way.”
“it’s a long walk.”
“you got any cigarettes?” he says to the man bicycling up a hill.
“fresh out.”
“all right, man. you sound like you know what you’re talking about.”
“i know how to get to 36th and parallel from here.”
“thanks.”
“good luck.”

long walk ahead, mr. ticket.
long walk ahead.